Temple Beth Sholom collects for local food banks

Temple Beth Sholom has collected 170 grocery bags worth of food to be donated to the All Faiths Food Bank and the Jewish Family and Children’s Services food pantry.

The Tikkum Olam, which translates to “heal the world,” event kicked off during Rosh Hashanah and will continue as long as members are making donations. Although Temple Beth Sholom collects food regularly the idea behind the Tikkum Olam was to make a bigger impact.

Rabbi Michael Werbow is pleased by the amount of food temple members have donated. He made the initial suggestion to expand the weekly food drive and is considering making it an annual event.

“It can be easier to focus people on that goal around the holidays,” Werbow said.

For this goal Temple Beth Sholom teamed up with the Winn-Dixie located on Fruitville Road. Winn-Dixie donated 500 paper grocery bags for the event, all of which were sent home with temple members to make donations. A list of the most needed items was attached to the bags asking for canned fruits/vegetables, dried pasta, rice, canned soups, peanut butter, jelly jams, canned tuna/salmon and healthy snacks.